Monat History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
France
England

The prominent surname Monat originated in France, a country which has been a dominant presence in world affairs for centuries. The earliest forms of hereditary surnames in France were the patronymic surnames, which are derived from the father's given name, and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the mother's given name. The patronyms were derived from a variety of given names that were of many different origins. As well as the names of the saints of the Christian Church, many of the most common French surnames are derived from personal names of Germanic origin. They derive from the language of the Visigoths, who controlled France between the mid-5th and early 8th centuries. The family name Monet is a shortened form of either of two Old French given names, Hamon and Emon.

Early Origins of the Monat family

The surname Monat was first found in Savoy (French: Savoie) in the Rhône-Alpes region of the French Alps, where the family held a family seat from ancient times.

Another branch of the family was found in Monnay, Normandy. And many of this branch of the family participated in the Conquest of England.

By example, William de Monay was a benefactor to Bliburgh, Suffolk, before the time of Henry II. Robert de Monei held a fief from Bigot, Earl of Norfolk, in 1165. 1

"The fee held by William was at Brigg. In Yorkshire, ' Henri de Monnaie witnesses the original grant of the manor of Allerton, probably about 1190 :' and a family of the name Monet of Hadlesby, continued in the county in the seventeenth century. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Robert Monay in Oxfordshire. William de Mony is entered in the Testa de Nevill as holding part of a knight's fee at Clinton, in that county, of Guy Fitz Robert and Bardolt Fitz Roger : and Walter de Munet as holding by serjeanty at Munet in Staffordshire. " 2

The Mauny variant derived there name from "the castle of Mauny at Hambye, (the parish adjoining St. Denis-de-Gaste) in Normandy." 3

Over the course of many centuries, this family branched, prospered and expanded to many regions where members of the family adapted to the cultural and linguistic changes in these regions and also became active citizens defending their beliefs, their King, and their country. This ancient family name is registered at Abondance in 1649.

A famous member of the family, Claude Monet, was a French painter during the 1800s and 1900s. Claude was fascinated by the reflection of light off the water and his painting "Impression, soleil levant " (1872), inspired a critic to describe him as an "Impressionniste". His home at Giverny remains open to the public as well as the famous garden with the water lilies which he painted so frequently.

Early History of the Monat family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Monat research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1540, 1549, 1556, 1600, 1641, 1656 and 1703 are included under the topic Early Monat History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Monat Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Monet, Monai, Monez, Moner, Money, Monnet, Monnai, Monnaie, Monnaies, Monnait, Monnez, Monner, Monaie, Monaies, Monait, Monette, Monnette and many more.

Early Notables of the Monat family

Another 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Monat Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Monat migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Monat Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Isabella Monat, aged 42, a laundrymaid, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Duke of Edinburgh" in 1873
Barclay Monat, aged 36, a fisherman, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Chile" in 1874
Marion Monat, aged 34, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Chile" in 1874
Betty Monat, aged 11, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Chile" in 1874
William Monat, aged 9, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Chile" in 1874
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Monat (post 1700) +

Paul E. Monat Sr., American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for Delegate to Michigan State Constitutional Convention from Wayne County 19th District, 1961 4

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 2 of 3
Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 2) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html